Dropping profits and stock prices have analysts speculating that Sun could be a target for either acquisition or a restructuring in which the company would sell off parts of the business and focus on a smaller set of technologies. In a July 31 report, the 451 Group analyst firm raised the possibility of Sun being acquired: 'Sun's sunken stock price creates a relative bargain considering its roughly $4 billion cash on hand, sizeable intellectual property and patent portfolio, and of course, its respected technology and products'.

I agree with you to a certain extent that a strategic partnership would likely be the case. However I do think that it would be a good business move, if Apple did purchase SUN and made the group their enterprise group.

This would allow the bulk of Apple to continue to focus on their consumer products and supply Apple with enterprise innovation and community.

OS-X server could get some clout being that it had the SUN unix backing. This would seem to me to give Apple some real UNIX clout.

It could also increase it's standing as a developer platform by integrating MYSQL more. Maybe even a Time Machine, ZFS, MYSQL, xVM virtualization & SUN Storage technology solution.